5 Assignment 01

Alfie Corteza

Dr. Bullock

WGS 10000 Section 09

In chapter 3 of “Women, Race and Class” by Angela Y. Davis, she includes an incident of segregation involving an individual who sided with the abolition movement. This event occurred in the summer of 1848, it included Frederick Douglass’ and his wife’s daughter not being able to take part in an all female seminary. The significance as to why this moment was covered in this chapter was because the person responsible for enforcing the isolation was an abolitionist woman. As the Douglas family protested the segregationist policy, the principal called for a vote if any of the other female students didn’t agree to the integration in the classroom. The result of the dilemma ended with Douglass’ daughter being excluded by only the parent’s vote of the students for exclusion, and interestingly enough not one of the students voted against the integration.

I believe that Davis included this situation as it reveals that even though there were women from the North that were pro anti-slavery, there were still issues regarding internal racism in the gender-equality movement. Davis states, that as a result of this situation, and those that were similar to it, had caused a resolution to be developed by the National Convention of Colored Freedman in 1848, that all women have the same equality (1981, 64). It reveals the flaws of the early stages of the abolitionist campaign, by displaying internal conflicts between genders, and class even though they were fighting for the same thing. It is not only disheartening but also concerning as a person fighting for women’s rights would reveal a position of superiority in regards to race, even though all of the women in the United States were suffering under gender inequality. From what was understood from the reading, the state of the coalition for women equality for all races was in the right direction but had major flaws that needed to be rectified.

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’s book, Davis sheds light on the beginnings of women’s rights and how gender played a huge role on how a person was treated. Women have always been viewed as inferior compared to men and certain events in history are shown to highlight that idea. Several figures in women’s rights movement arranged the first women’s right convention in New York to discuss the civil, social, and religious rights women deserved and should be entitled to. This convention gained much attention, however despite how much attention the convention had garnered the majority of the people present were men, which really demonstrated the difference in men and women; men had the last word to what rights women deserved. Its ironic that a convention about women’s rights is hosted and little to none of those who attended are females. Although this convention was a huge flop in my opinion, it led the way to numerous other events pertaining to women’s rights.

Females were always considered to be weak, dependent, and less capable than men. In the early days females never attended school, only the boys did. Females always stayed at home learning household tasks and being told that one day she’ll be like a maid taking care of the family.  In the older days there were very few women that went through the school system, Elizabeth Stanton with the help of her parents support was able to accomplish many things that were considered not appropriate for women. Stanton was able to complete equestrian tasks, study Greek, as well as going on to studying law with her father. Coming from a wealthy family, she as able to accomplish all this much easier than those coming from middle to low income families. She really had a unique childhood and a really bright future, however she ultimately ended up like every other women in her time, a basic housewife confined to her home and husband. Davis showed this example to emphasize the lack of rights/opportunities, Stanton had a great upbringing but that didn’t lead to anywhere.

Even though in today’s day and age, there is a still a huge gap between men and women; a lot has changed for the better but there is still a lot left to be done. Women are able to do much more, going to school, getting a job, making her own decisions, etc. Even though are these are commonplace now a days, I feel like the society’s idea what a women should be has really changed a lot. In the U.S as well as other countries, Disney movies play a good chunk in a child’s childhood. Many of the movies portray women as weak and dependent needing a Prince Charming to come in and save them.

In “Women, Race, and Class,” Angela Davis references many figures and events that help the reader understand the relationship between the history of women’s movements to the topics of gender, class and race. Davis provides many examples that show the reader time and time again, that race, gender, and class are linked and cannot be separated. One figure that I found to be a good example of this interrelation is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who had an integral contribution in the women’s rights movement. Born and raised in a white middle-class family, she was frustrated with her lifestyle. Years later, after becoming a mother and a housewife, she attended the Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840 alongside her abolitionist husband. However, when she attended the convention, she was excluded from fully participating. For example, she wasn’t allowed to speak. Due to experiencing such sexism, she decided to help create a movement that would promote gender equality. Elizabeth helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention in 1840, a convention that focused on justice and equality for women. However, Davis pointed out a fact that was very hypocritical in the message of the convention. The Seneca Falls Convention excluded black women. In my opinion, these two conventions and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s experience are put by Davis as perfect examples of what happens when we focus on gender and neglect race/class or focus on race and forget gender.

Race (or class) and gender are linked and we cannot separate them. The women who organized the Seneca Falls Convention assumed they were promoting equality for “women,” when they were in fact promoting equality for “White” women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her fellow organizers believed that they should respond to the sexism in the anti-slavery movement by focusing on gender, but that led to the exclusion of racial minorities. To truly fight for equality in an inclusive way that reflects people’s experience, we have to look at the intersection of race and gender. This reading led to reflect on my experience as a woman from a religious minority. As a Muslim woman, my experience is different from women of different races and ethnicities and so are my experiences with inequality. Muslim women face objectification and sexism like many women, but they also face Islamophobia due to their religion. Black women face sexism and racism. Davis shows us that race, gender, and class are related and therefore, any movement that aims to promote true equality must include all of them.

Angela Davis asserts that the women’s rights movement stemmed from slavery in the 1800s. She explains that both white women and black women have dealt with similar issues of discrimination and have tried numerous attempts in fighting for each other. Davis describes black women and white women as “sisters”. Any attack on a female black woman would be considered an attack on all of the female gender. For instance, during the 1840 World Anti – Slavery Convention, women did not have a chance in voting on several issues discussed during the convention. This was an important issue because it was an example of oppression from the men in this convention as well on slave fields and homes. This shows us that although black women and white women are from two different races, they have come together to ward off male superiority and oppression, and to support in each other in their struggles. The result of the convention was that the women were defeated. Additionally, the remarks of those with disabilities were also unheard. For example, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was handicapped, was not able to voice her opinion on almost a decade of abolitionism as a result of years in triumph in fighting for women’s rights. This shows those with disabilities were seen as lower in class than able women, because they were not even allowed to be considered in thought. Moreover, Stanton also grew up to wealthy and conservative parents, so she able to have certain privileges in school that most girls did not have. Some of these privileges included learning mathematics and law.  Her involvement with the law as a result of her parents being conservative led her to fight for the equal rights of all women. Although women during the suffrage movement came from different classes and races, they were able to come to together and speak on behalf of oppression and discrimination.

Those in control of political voice, education and, economy recognized the threat and actively resisted the endeavor and struggle of legitimizing the opposing claims and, in the right mind of any logical person, the sound arguments that demonstrated the end of such absolute control.

Davis’ brief overview highlights major events in history, some more catalytic than others, but all contributing to the rise of equal rights. I believe the collection of these events serve to illustrate the relationship between gender, race, and class in respect to the state of the economy and, equally important, state of political and educational accessibility.

Male supremacy was supported by a system rooted in economic conditions, specifically industrialization and slavery. This institutionalized the behavior resulted in casting women as inferior to men. Inferiority is inflicted onto both genders and all races in all classes. Perhaps the only exception to this that Davis does not mention would be poor white men, but even so they would have an advantage in the bout of political and economic struggle. So powerful was the institutionalization of male supremacy that women on their own private lives would be presented by the men in their families who claimed the credit of anything productive the women would do (Davis, 1981,61).

The restricted access to political voice and education among white women and people of color was made apparent, when Sojourner Truth stepped into the arena (Davis, 1981,66). Perhaps it was the confidence in her speech and sound arguments against the logic that men had built their formalized dominance over women on. She showed that even with resistance to a basic education as well as a tremendous disadvantage in political combat, people of both genders and all races in any class could rise up against institutionalized male supremacy.

The correlation of the exploitation of white women in the birth of industrialization and slavery were not recognized as systematic parallels immediately (Davis: 1981,71).  The domination of one over the other crosses all races, classes, and genders due to economy.

Davis is trying to take the reader step by step through the history of women during the 19th century while expanding her arguments on race, class and gender. Around the world there are millions of females with different backgrounds but is of great importance for Davis to begin with the role of black women during slavery. Her purpose is to show how their treatment was mostly influenced by profit. Back then a society focus on negotiations between owners to sell and manipulate their slaves in order to gain power a group of people as they also gained profit. However, there started to be a turning point when women realized their value and manifested opposition to obtain freedom. In chapter three, Davis describes and explains the “embryonic” actions of women who were dedicated to fight for independence from men and for their roles in a society with equality. In many different places there were campaigns such as the Anti-slavery Convention and the Seneca Falls Declaration in which women were able to be at least represented by other men or they by themselves had the chance to fight inequality. During the uprising of these events, one historical figure that grabbed my attention was Frederick Douglass. He was  a man who defended the rights of women. Davis mentions how his convincement of the right to vote came from a women. What Davis is trying to tell us by mentioning him is to portray determination, unity and hope for a change in the perspective others had about women having the right to vote. She explains how he was the only one that accepted to fight and had the will to persevere even when he was rejected by the press and other people. He represented a form of freedom to express their values in a family, in a job and in a society. Women wanted to be equally treated and not be a minority. One of the characteristic he had was loyalty even when there was a lot of opposition between males and females. Davis demonstrates that there is possibility to come to an agreement and be open minded to discuss the issues one is experiencing. Overall, each reference she uses clarify and proved the possibility to reach freedom and equality.

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’ Women,Race & Class, the Seneca Falls conference I found there to two different sides of the spectrum that were to be addressed. On one hand, at this convention there were working class white women expressing their unfavorable working conditions that were followed by  even more unfavorable wages for their hours of hard work and sweat. These women were part of  the white working middle class. So yes although these arguments are crucial to discuss for Women’s rights they also do not address the other side of the spectrum. As we saw in Chapter 2 of Davis’s work, We cannot fully address or move forward in any Women’s Rights movements if we do not abolish slavery as well. Although both black  men and women were subject to slavery  in terms of Women’s rights this was a battle to fight together  because even to address the abolishment of slavery it was first noted that the opinion of these women were scrutinized for the fact alone of having their sex be female.

I feel that by Davis addressing this issue in chapter 3 at the Seneca Falls conference on  how there was a lack of voice for the black women who were subjected to the inhumane treatments of slavery shines light on the fact of this being a race and class issue. White middle class women who would take part in the anti-slavery movement, were not the majority at the Seneca Falls conference where it would have truly counted to be a voice for all matters concerning Women’s rights. On the other hand black women slaves were the minority. Although women as a whole are an oppressed sex, being a black enslaved women is part of  a minority is experiencing triple of what her white counterpart is. This reminded me of Michael Kimmel’s ” The Gendered Society” where he partially attacks this same issue. In the story there are two women, one white and black. The argument is what one sees when they look in the mirror. The white women responds that she simply sees a woman while the other response is that she sees a black woman. I found it to be an extremely interesting conversation because I think it is crucial to understand the lenses with which one sees their self and why they see it that way.

In chapter 3 of, “Women, Race & Class”, Angela Y. Davis uses prominent historical figures and events to explain the relationship between gender, race and class. This relationship is best represented during the Akron Convention when African-American women named Sojourner Truth distinguished herself in the midst. The relationship amongst people around the nineteenth century was based on class then divided itself into gender and race. The white man was considered the superior figure, being able to vote and hold land. The white woman was the housewife in some cases tending to the children, being unable to be self-sustainable and education was barred for most women. African Americans on the other hand were slaves, sort of like domesticated animals at the time due to the insensitivity of their jobs and the harsh treatment they received. Black woman were treated no differently, raising kid, tending to land, equal punishments. One group that was not mentioned during the Seneca conventions was the African American woman. Sojourner Truth connected the relationship between race, gender and class by representing the last group of women who faced both racism and sexism which were two controversial topics at the time, during the abolition movement and women right movement. Truth goes on to explain in her famous “aint I woman?” speech she gives counterclaim to argument that women were too fragile to help themselves, what purpose do they need to vote. Stating she hasn’t not experienced the courteous side to a man seeing that she is a woman. That she too has done the same load of work as other African American men in the field and take the same punishment as they do while bearing thirteen children, all to watch them be sold as slaves. Sojourner  Truth was mentioned by Davis to explain the connection between race, class and gender. African –American women needed their equal rights just as much as white woman and white woman needed their equal rights just as African American men needed their human rights. All these issues at the time from sexism and racism all depended on the superior figure at the time, White men.

In chapter three of Angela Davis’ “Women, Race, and Class” gives us a deeper understanding on the history of the women’s movement. It expands on the dominance of white males in society. Davis displays how gender played such prominent roles in how was given rights in society. The main historical event that she mentions was the Seneca Falls Convention which was created to discuss the rights of women. One name that Davis mention multiple times was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who used her previous experiences at other conventions such as the London convention to organize a women’s rights convention. She used her position and knowledge and made herself a leader for the women who wanted to fight for their rights. It was a struggle to get people to string along to the idea that white women could have rights, let alone African American women. The convention showed that race was still a prevalent problem in determining who had rights.

Ironically, a women’s rights convention was held, and no women were in attendance. The white males had no interest in listening to any of the nonsense about women’s rights. The purpose of this convention was to show how marriage and motherhood set up males to be the dominant ones in society. Females had to rely on males to provide for the family and how it allowed males to do basically anything they wanted to women. This convention basically displayed how little standing women had in society and how it impacted lives physically, mentally, and socially. Davis wants to display that being a woman, whether white or black, or whatever class they belonged too, had a harsh time living in the 1800’s due to the inequalities they faced in society.

In the third chapter of Angela Davis’ Women, Race & Class, much is revealed about the origins and beginning stages of the women’s rights movement. As Davis revisits the history of the women’s rights movement, she discusses the Seneca Falls Convention. What instantly becomes ironic is that although the convention was organized with the intent to give women a platform to express their need for liberation, there was an astonishing lack of female presence. Instead, men who had little concern for the issues that brought about the convention were largely in attendance, proving that male superiority still reigned over the female population.

At the Seneca Falls Convention it became evident that a large disconnect existed between women of different races. There was an enormous lack of inclusion of the heavily oppressed Black female community. Black women were completely disregarded in the conversations that took place regarding the liberation of women, despite the fact that they faced the same and often greater hardships than their white female counterparts. Black women faced oppression not only due to their womanhood, but were also subject to racism. It was only after Angelina Grimke criticized the insufficient inclusion of Black women that there became greater advocation for the Black female population.

Female workers were mostly limited to industrial fields, where they experienced gruesome work hours and conditions. The poorer a woman was, the more grueling her work would be. Those that were able to work within their homes usually were not in control of the types of work they performed or the flow of their wages. There were even times at which women were not paid for their work at all. This was due to the belief that women were expected to cater to the needs of their husbands, by ensuring that they tended to home and to their children.

Overall, Davis shows that race, sex, and class are all elements used to make women appear more inferior both to one another and in the eyes of a man.